Starting Business Out Right! Help me out?

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MEGAdetail

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Im in the process of starting a mobile detailing business. I have researched & researched! Read Renny's book! Researched more, read Renny's book again!

I will not be targeting paint correction market yet!
As i do not feel comfortable with offering these services just yet on any cars but my own!
So my sole market will be mostly interior and exterior washes!

So this is what i have come up with.


Express Exterior
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-Wheels &Tires Cleaned
-Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Spray Wax is Applied

Estimated Time: About 1+ hour(s)
Cars: $45 (2 doors) / $55 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $65
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Express Interior
-Vacuum Carpets & Floor Mats
-Vacuum Seats
-Windows Ceaned (tint safe)
-Dash & Center Console Dusted


Estimated Time: About 1+ hour(s)
Cars: $45 (2 doors) / $55 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $65
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Express Detail
Includes Both Express Exterior & Express Interior
Packages as well as 1 of the Following 4 Services

Apply Cleaner Wax - Application of a High Quality Carnauba Wax to Remove Light Oxidation & Restores Color as well as Leaves Protection for your Paint

Apply UV Dressing - Application of a UV Protection/Dressing to the Dash & Center Console. Leaving a Beautiful Shine. Then Exterior Plastics Recieve Dressing to Protect from Fading over time

Shampoo All Carpet & Floor Mats - First we use Upholstery soaps to bring dirt & grime to the surface. Then Hot Water Extraction is used to lift the dirt & grime.

Deep Clean of Leather surfaces - First we Deep Clean All Leather Surfaces leaving the pores of the Leather Clean & Open. Then we Fill those pore with UV Protection/Conditioner leaving your Leather Clean, Soft & Supple.



Estimated Time: 3-5 hours
Cars: $90 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $150
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Exterior Plan
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Clay bar Treatment (removes above surface contaminents from paint)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Thoroughly Cleaned (i.e. doors, gas door, trunk)
-Wheels &Wheel Wells are Cleaned
-Tired Dressed
-All Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Wax is Applied by Machine
(sealant is optional at additional cost)



Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Cars: $100 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $140
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Interior Plan
-Carpets & Upholstery Vacuumed
-Dash & Center Console is Cleaned
-Door Panels are Cleaned
-Door Jambs are Cleaned
-Pedals Cleaned
-All Windows are Cleaned(tint safe)
-Carpets & Floor Mats are Shampooed & Chemically Cleaned
-All Leather Seats are Cleaned & Conditioned
-Fabric Seats will Receive Same Attention as Carpets
-Headliner Spot Cleaned
-Dash, Door Panels & Center Console Protected/Dressed


Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Cars: $100 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $140
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Take Care Detail
Exterior
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Clay bar Treatment (removes above surface contaminents from paint)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Thoroughly Cleaned (i.e. doors, gas door, trunk)
-Wheels &Wheel Wells are Cleaned
-Tired Dressed
-All Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Wax is Applied by Machine
(sealant is optional at additional cost)
Interior
-Carpets & Upholstery Vacuumed
-Dash & Center Console is Cleaned
-Door Panels are Cleaned
-Door Jambs are Cleaned
-Pedals Cleaned
-All Windows are Cleaned(tint safe)
-Carpets & Floor Mats are Shampooed & Chemically Cleaned
-All Leather Seats are Cleaned & Conditioned
-Fabric Seats will Receive Same Attention as Carpets
-Headliner Spot Cleaned
-Dash, Door Panels & Center Console Protected/Dressed

Estimated Time: 6-8 hours
Cars:$180 (2 doors) / $210 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $240
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Maintenance Plan
(For cars in Good/New Condition upon inspection)
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Tires & Wheel/Wheel Wells Cleaned
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Wiped down
-Tires Dressed
-Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Spray Wax is Applied
-Carpets & Seats Vacuumed
-Pedels Cleaned
-Dash & Center Console Dusted
-Door Panels Dusted

Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
Cars: $50
Trucks & SUVs: $75
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Please any & all opinions are welcome!
Thanks for looking
Brandon

 
Good luck. Just wanna warn you that the first months are very rough, getting the first clients takes a lot of time. Let us know how it goes.
 
I'm over a year into it and still having trouble getting clients. I'm still at it though!
 
Are you wanting opinions on your service menu or business overall?

I dont know why mobile detailers are not almost exclusively using ONR for wash packages. It is fast, looks great when finished, and can be done with only a minimum of equipment. People Dont care if you are 1, 2, or 5 bucket as long as their car is clean and shiny when finished.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
My advice to you is that on your days off--you'll have plenty of them--get out and network. Don't necessarily go out and start soliciting people you don't know...it mostly annoys people and makes you seem desperate. Get out and make friends, get to know business owners, get to know your area inside and out. Go to car shows. Again, don't just walk up and introduce yourself as a detailers. It's annoying. Get to know these guys. Ask them about their cars. They'll want to talk all day.
Stay active. Don't just sit around and mope when you don't have a car, or a client cancels or no-shows. It's gonna happen, a lot!
 
statusdetailing said:
My advice to you is that on your days off--you'll have plenty of them--get out and network. Don't necessarily go out and start soliciting people you don't know...it mostly annoys people and makes you seem desperate. Get out and make friends, get to know business owners, get to know your area inside and out. Go to car shows. Again, don't just walk up and introduce yourself as a detailers. It's annoying. Get to know these guys. Ask them about their cars. They'll want to talk all day.
Stay active. Don't just sit around and mope when you don't have a car, or a client cancels or no-shows. It's gonna happen, a lot!
Click to expand...

This is great advice.

You will also want to be found on google, bing and yahoo searches. When people want to find a service they search for it or search local directories like yelp, yellowpages, etc. Your business needs to be listed there.

Like Jeremy said, if you aren't detailing a car you need to be networking in person and on the internet.
 
it realllllly helps if youre connected within the local car world.. these are the guys that want shiny and dont mind paying a penny pretty for it
 
Like Jeremy and Scott said it will take time build up customers. I've been full time for over 2 years and now I'm booked all the time but it took about a year to really get busy all the time. Making through winter can be hard if you don't have steady customers.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice! Everyone here is so helpful ALL the time!
If it wasn't for AGO I wouldn't have the knowledge or even the courage to go thru with this.

And yes what does everyone think about the packages? That would be helpful as we'll!
Little more about me and the business I have a full time job this would just be on the side. I have a lot of family that knows a lot of people, owns a tax and bookkeeping company with a lot of clients. Mostly I would be doing word of mouth as my main marketing but also a referral program, as well as a little social marketing at website.
So mostly starting off I would be doing this after work and on days off.
 
VP Mark said:
Are you wanting opinions on your service menu or business overall?

I dont know why mobile detailers are not almost exclusively using ONR for wash packages. It is fast, looks great when finished, and can be done with only a minimum of equipment. People Dont care if you are 1, 2, or 5 bucket as long as their car is clean and shiny when finished.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
Click to expand...
I agree with this 100%. As far as the services you offer, those $45 interior or exterior packages are not worth it. I do not load all my gear into my truck for less than $120. It needs to be worth my time or I won't do it. It only took me 60 days in business to realize maintenance washes and $50 jobs are a waste of time. I guess you need to start somewhere though. Good luck.
 
rustytruck said:
I agree with this 100%. As far as the services you offer, those $45 interior or exterior packages are not worth it. I do not load all my gear into my truck for less than $120. It needs to be worth my time or I won't do it. It only took me 60 days in business to realize maintenance washes and $50 jobs are a waste of time. I guess you need to start somewhere though. Good luck.
Click to expand...

What would you think about doing a 2 car minimum for those plans and maintenance washes?
 
Also in your Exterior Plan and Take Care Detail I see you have "Clay the paint" but I don't see anything as far as a polish... when you clay, inevitably there will be some marring and I think you should at least do an AIO type application. Just a machine wax wont always do the job. Looks good otherwise to me. GOOD LUCK MAN!!!
 
VP Mark said:
Are you wanting opinions on your service menu or business overall?

I dont know why mobile detailers are not almost exclusively using ONR for wash packages. It is fast, looks great when finished, and can be done with only a minimum of equipment. People Dont care if you are 1, 2, or 5 bucket as long as their car is clean and shiny when finished.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
Click to expand...

I have just started using Optimum No Rinse and Wax on a regular basis. It still scares the hell out of me to wash a car without rinsing it down, foaming it and power cleaning it first LOL But ya the results are good with this product. I use a 3 gallon bucket half filled and after I am done washing I usually have half of the original solution left. Really takes very little water and almost no product (half an ounce roughtly).

I know Garry Dean swears by it, I am starting to understand why.
 
dcjredline said:
Also in your Exterior Plan and Take Care Detail I see you have "Clay the paint" but I don't see anything as far as a polish... when you clay, inevitably there will be some marring and I think you should at least do an AIO type application. Just a machine wax wont always do the job. Looks good otherwise to me. GOOD LUCK MAN!!!
Click to expand...

Yea I might take a chance on a white car, but I'd expect to polish just about anything else just as a precaution.
 
I was thinking about just using Meguiars microfiber correction system?
 
I would like to suggest you to cut of your off days that will help you to you'll have plenty of them get out and network.don't necessarily go out and start soliciting people you don't know
 
MEGAdetail said:
Im in the process of starting a mobile detailing business. I have researched & researched! Read Renny's book! Researched more, read Renny's book again!

I will not be targeting paint correction market yet!
As i do not feel comfortable with offering these services just yet on any cars but my own!
So my sole market will be mostly interior and exterior washes!

So this is what i have come up with.


Express Exterior
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-Wheels &Tires Cleaned
-Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Spray Wax is Applied

Estimated Time: About 1+ hour(s)
Cars: $45 (2 doors) / $55 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $65
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Express Interior
-Vacuum Carpets & Floor Mats
-Vacuum Seats
-Windows Ceaned (tint safe)
-Dash & Center Console Dusted


Estimated Time: About 1+ hour(s)
Cars: $45 (2 doors) / $55 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $65
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Express Detail
Includes Both Express Exterior & Express Interior
Packages as well as 1 of the Following 4 Services

Apply Cleaner Wax - Application of a High Quality Carnauba Wax to Remove Light Oxidation & Restores Color as well as Leaves Protection for your Paint

Apply UV Dressing - Application of a UV Protection/Dressing to the Dash & Center Console. Leaving a Beautiful Shine. Then Exterior Plastics Recieve Dressing to Protect from Fading over time

Shampoo All Carpet & Floor Mats - First we use Upholstery soaps to bring dirt & grime to the surface. Then Hot Water Extraction is used to lift the dirt & grime.

Deep Clean of Leather surfaces - First we Deep Clean All Leather Surfaces leaving the pores of the Leather Clean & Open. Then we Fill those pore with UV Protection/Conditioner leaving your Leather Clean, Soft & Supple.



Estimated Time: 3-5 hours
Cars: $90 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $150
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Exterior Plan
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Clay bar Treatment (removes above surface contaminents from paint)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Thoroughly Cleaned (i.e. doors, gas door, trunk)
-Wheels &Wheel Wells are Cleaned
-Tired Dressed
-All Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Wax is Applied by Machine
(sealant is optional at additional cost)



Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Cars: $100 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $140
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Interior Plan
-Carpets & Upholstery Vacuumed
-Dash & Center Console is Cleaned
-Door Panels are Cleaned
-Door Jambs are Cleaned
-Pedals Cleaned
-All Windows are Cleaned(tint safe)
-Carpets & Floor Mats are Shampooed & Chemically Cleaned
-All Leather Seats are Cleaned & Conditioned
-Fabric Seats will Receive Same Attention as Carpets
-Headliner Spot Cleaned
-Dash, Door Panels & Center Console Protected/Dressed


Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Cars: $100 (2 doors) / $120 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $140
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Take Care Detail
Exterior
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Clay bar Treatment (removes above surface contaminents from paint)
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Thoroughly Cleaned (i.e. doors, gas door, trunk)
-Wheels &Wheel Wells are Cleaned
-Tired Dressed
-All Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Wax is Applied by Machine
(sealant is optional at additional cost)
Interior
-Carpets & Upholstery Vacuumed
-Dash & Center Console is Cleaned
-Door Panels are Cleaned
-Door Jambs are Cleaned
-Pedals Cleaned
-All Windows are Cleaned(tint safe)
-Carpets & Floor Mats are Shampooed & Chemically Cleaned
-All Leather Seats are Cleaned & Conditioned
-Fabric Seats will Receive Same Attention as Carpets
-Headliner Spot Cleaned
-Dash, Door Panels & Center Console Protected/Dressed

Estimated Time: 6-8 hours
Cars:$180 (2 doors) / $210 (4 doors)
Trucks & SUVs: $240
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Maintenance Plan
(For cars in Good/New Condition upon inspection)
-Foam Pre-Soak
-Hand Wash (2 bucket method)
-Tires & Wheel/Wheel Wells Cleaned
-Forced Air & Hand Dried
-All Jambs Wiped down
-Tires Dressed
-Windows Cleaned (tint safe)
-Premium Quality Spray Wax is Applied
-Carpets & Seats Vacuumed
-Pedels Cleaned
-Dash & Center Console Dusted
-Door Panels Dusted

Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
Cars: $50
Trucks & SUVs: $75
(prices are "Starting At" and "Final Price" will be determined upon inspection)

Please any & all opinions are welcome!
Thanks for looking
Brandon

Click to expand...

I'd say you're on the right track. One thing someone else said is about the pricing and the way some things are worded. As long as you're sure you can do everything listed REALLY well, and in the exact time you specify, then I'd recommend upping the price some and adding more services to the plans to compensate. I've visited a lot of members detail sites and some seem to have a common theme involving detail lingo that customers more than likely don't know about or probably car about, they just want good results. I'd also get comfortable with paint correction because that is where the money is at. The better you get at it, the more profit you can make. Like Renny says in his book, you want to be making at least $40 per working hour, but you may not quite make that when you're just starting out. I am in the same boat as you, I have my first paying client on saturday! He's getting a $395 package, and I wowed him by giving him a first time discount of 10% for $355.
 
Euphoria64 said:
I'd say you're on the right track. One thing someone else said is about the pricing and the way some things are worded. As long as you're sure you can do everything listed REALLY well, and in the exact time you specify, then I'd recommend upping the price some and adding more services to the plans to compensate. I've visited a lot of members detail sites and some seem to have a common theme involving detail lingo that customers more than likely don't know about or probably car about, they just want good results. I'd also get comfortable with paint correction because that is where the money is at. The better you get at it, the more profit you can make. Like Renny says in his book, you want to be making at least $40 per working hour, but you may not quite make that when you're just starting out. I am in the same boat as you, I have my first paying client on saturday! He's getting a $395 package, and I wowed him by giving him a first time discount of 10% for $355.
Click to expand...

Great advice! Appreciate the time you took! I'm still in the working stage right now. Like I said and you said I want to get comfortable or very comfortable with paint correction before I attempt it on a paying customers car. I did notice now looking at the packages that I have a few wording and spelling errors I am working right now having family friend design a logo and design a menu I will post pictures of the menus when completes.

Any other advice is helpful and wanted!
 
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